Big News Archives - Page 3 of 18

01.28.26

Asheville City Council Approves $15.5M in Funding for Small Business Support Program

January 27, 2026, the Asheville City Council approved the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Small Business Support Program subrecipients, including Mountain BizWorks. This means $15.5 million in direct grant funding is on the way for Asheville small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Mountain BizWorks will partner with ArtsAVL and Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation to administer allocated funds through a…

12.23.25

All Helene Business Recovery Funds Deployed

We have big news to share as the year comes to an end. Between loans already funded and the final few that have been approved for funding in the coming days, The WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund is now fully deployed. The program is also now closed to new applications. Launched just 10 days after the storm hit,…

12.18.25

Recover Forward: $1.29M in Grants Delivered to Support WNC Small Business Recovery

This November, Mountain BizWorks distributed $1.29 million in WNC Strong: Recover Forward Grants in support of small business recovery across Western North Carolina. These local business grants will support 73 local businesses and more than 500 jobs in communities hardest hit by Hurricane Helene. This work has been made possible through generous funding from the…

11.13.25

Mountain BizWorks Celebrates 10 Years of ScaleUp WNC, Opens Applications for 14th Cohort

Group photo of ScaleUp Cohort 13 including text "ScaleUp WNC Applications Now Open"

Mountain BizWorks is celebrating a decade of ScaleUp as it opens applications for the fourteenth cohort of the transformative program. Designed to help existing small businesses reach their growth potential across Western North Carolina, ScaleUp has served more than 200 growing companies across 13 cohorts since its 2015 launch. The program is open to founders…

11.05.25

Five Innovative Local Entrepreneurs to Pitch at Mountain Raise

Mountain Raise 2025 entrepreneur pitch event hosted by Mountain BizWorks at Highland Brewing in Asheville, NC.

Join Mountain BizWorks for Mountain Raise 2025, its annual “barn raising” for the WNC local economy. This year’s event is November 13 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Highland Brewing Company. Guests will hear from five local businesses looking for support to grow in innovative ways and experience a lively panel discussion with three active…

10.29.25

North Carolina General Assembly Approves Longer Runway for Business Recovery

The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) approved more flexible relief terms for the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund, extending the one-percent interest rate and interest-only payment window from 12 to 24 months along with other supportive modifications. The Fund, administered by Mountain BizWorks, totals over $60 million with support from the State of North…